1034

Jatropha gossypifolia L.

Synonym	:	Adenoropium gossypifolium (L.)
Family	:	EUPHORBIACEAE
Local name	:	Malayalam- . Chuvannakadalavanakku,
Flowering and fruiting period	:	July-September
Distribution	:	Native of South America, planted elsewhere in the tropics
Distribution in kerala	:	All districts
Habitat	:	Grown as hedge plant,
Uses	:	used in folkloric system to manage emesis and gastrointestinal motility disorders such as constipation and diarrhea.
Key Botanical Characters : Shrubs, purplish green and glandular hairy on younger parts. Leaves in close spiral, deeply 3-5-lobed, 7-11 x 8-12 cm, orbicular-cordate, margin with gland-tipped hairs, lobes obtusely acuminate, 5-nerved; stipules glandular-hairy; petiole 3-10 cm long, glandular-hairy. Flowers red with yellow centre, unisexual in axillary and terminal monoecious corymbose cymes. Bracts linear-lanceolate, glandular-hairy. Male perianth lobes free, biseriate, reddish-brown, outer c. 5 mm long, lanceolate, inner ones c. 4 mm long, obovate, villous at base within. Stamens 8-10. Female tepals 5. Stamens 8, biseriate. Ovary 3-celled; ovules solitary in each; styles 3, connate below. Capsule 1.3-17 x 1-1.4 cm, 3-lobed. Seeds oblong, 3-gonous

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